Here are my photos for two blogging events: Saturday Snapshot hosted by At Home With Books and Paris in July over at BookBath.
In August, 2010, I was in Paris, stayed at a small hotel on a side street in the Latin Quarter, across from the Sorbonne. And just recently I was reading the book The Hundred-Foot Journey (my last post). In the book, the protagonist Hassan was offered a place to start his own restaurant, at 11 Rue Valette, near the Panthéon. When I came to that part of the book, I quickly went Googling and found, ta-da! Hassan’s restaurant was within walking distance of the hotel I stayed in.
This is what happens, you fuse together reality and fiction… that’s the joy of reading. And I could even imagine stopping by the restaurant to have a taste of Hassan’s haute French cuisine.
No, I didn’t get to Hassan’s Le Chien Méchant, but found this little cinema not far from our hotel on another narrow side street, Cinema du Panthéon, and it was showing the acclaimed film Des Hommes Et Des Dieux.
I had an urge to go in and watch it, but on second thought, I was in Paris, a French film showing in Paris would probably not have English subtitles.
I did get to see the film Of Gods and Men (2010) when I came back home, French with English subtitles.
***
I am enjoying all the posts connecting these two events. I love seeing Paris!
LikeLike
It’s fun to join them together. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
I love it when I come across connections like that in a book. I still have never been to France. Maybe someday but it isn’t on my bucket list…
LikeLike
There are just too many places to see in the world to be just limited to a list, for sure.
LikeLike
Hmmmm…. Maybe I will take part in Paris in July. We’ll see. In the meantime – these photos are so good. I love glimpses of cities like Paris and London that celebrate more than the magnificence of the museums, operas, and so on. They’re a good reminder that people live there, too, and do things like go to movies!
LikeLike
Linda,
I’ll be so excited to see your Paris posts. Do join us if you can. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the trip. 😉
LikeLike
Very neat! I know I would certainly need the subtitles. 🙂
LikeLike
Also, as a tourist, one would seldom have the time to go to the movies. But maybe that’s something that needs to be experienced.
LikeLike
I love book connections to reality! I recently realized my hotel for an upcoming trip to London is on the same block as a character’s apartment in a series I enjoy. Needless to say, I was thrilled.
LikeLike
That’s good that you know before you go so to plan your trip for that. I wish you bon voyage!
LikeLike
This book is on my list. What fun to see or read about things and be able to place them. We did that with the movie Midnight in Paris. Here’s Mine
LikeLike
Yes, I’ve been to your Sat. Snapshot post and left a comment. Your photos are so memorable. I’m sure your children would thank you (or have) for preserving your family memories so well. Thanks for stopping by Ripple Effects. 😉
LikeLike
How cool is that!? When I went last year, I tried to scope out all the old Hemingway haunts.
LikeLike
Next time I go, I might seek out all the literary figures and artists from Midnight in Paris, yes, esp. Hemingway. 😉
LikeLike
I feel like everyone has been to Paris except me! I would definitely need subtitles… for the movies and restaurant menus too.
LikeLike
I guess this blogging event does function in a way to offer a virtual trip of Paris. Visiting all these blogs, I find there are just so many places I’d missed.
LikeLike
It’s always fun to connect books you’ve read (or are reading) to real places you’ve been. thanks for sharing the Paris pictures…I’d like to go one day, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get there.
Here’s my Snapshot.
LikeLike
Your photos are real cool. Always good to see historic shots of your own local community or state. Lots of places to explore right in our own backyard without going abroad that’s for sure.
LikeLike
Love your pictures – really captures the feel of some of those side streets. I did Paris pictures too – http://myreadingbooks.blogspot.ca/2012/07/poetry-project-revamp.html
LikeLike
Ignore that – that’s not my blog (but it’s an interesting poetry project)~ – mine is http://chriscross-thebooktrunk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/parisian-pictures-take-two.html Sorry.
LikeLike
It’s interesting to see you’ve also combined these two blogging events. Actually I have a series of 4 posts back in 2010 right after I came back from my England/France trip. If you’re interested, here’s the beginning of that travel series.
LikeLike
I had a “oh I’ve been there” when reading The Three Musketeers- it was fantastic. I’ve never been to the movies in Paris, not sure that my French will ever be good enough. I liked your pics. I visited Paris this week too.
LikeLike
It’s great that you’ve just come back from Paris. And you’ve given me a good idea of what to do next time I go… birdwatching. Yes, i should do more ‘nature’ activities rather than just ‘touring’.
LikeLike
Thanks for the link – I enjoyed your post on Tate Modern – I went to Tate Britain a few years back, and was really impressed – I don’t usually understand modern art, but it was very thought provoking, and there was a lot of more traditional art on display as well.
LikeLike
Paris would be such a wonderful place to visit. I’ve never been there so appreciate your photos. It’s like armchair travel.
LikeLike
There are so many places that I’d missed in my past visits, I’m like a first-time tourist every time. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment, Kaye. 😉
LikeLike
I saw The Unbearable Lightness of Being in Paris – happily the original film with French subtitles. But it’s always stayed with me as a real experience. Lovely to see your snapshots!
LikeLike
Yes, it must be a great experience going to the movie houses in another country. I should have gone in there.
LikeLike
Only you could meld reading with reality so seamlessly, Arti. Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
ds, you’re just too kind… I appreciate your comment so much. It’s also serendipity too, that we can experience reality that match our reading, and vice versa.
LikeLike
Oh, Arti! It sounds lik a perfect location — I love the Latin Quarter, so much to do and see! I may have taken a chance with the movie, just for sport. Or, maybe just to see the interior of the theatre! Love the outside!
LikeLike
The next time you go, there are many ’boutique’ style, small hotels in the Latin Quarter. And you’re right, I should have gone in there and watched that movie… just for the experience.
LikeLike
Oh Paris! I thought if I stopped thinking about it, I wouldn’t miss it. Been doing that for the last 20 years. But watching Midnight in Paris on the long haul flight home proved me wrong. I still remember the street corners and the riverside…with a tingle in my heart.
Now you have done it again with your beautiful post.
Maybe it’s time to go…
LikeLike
I’d love to visit Paris again, but not any time soon I don’t think. You’re fortunate to be living so close … you can actually just go there for a weekend excursion. After Paris, now Mr. Allen has given us Rome. Maybe I’ll just have to shift my focus after July.
LikeLike
I’ve only been to Paris once, more than thirty years ago. I’m reading “The Elegance of the Hedgehog,” which takes place in Paris, so this post is very timely. So far, though, the novel hasn’t left the apartment building where the story takes place!
I love your photos! Gorgeous! I am especially fond of photos of theaters.
LikeLike
Cathy,
The Elegance of the Hedgehog is one of my favorite books of all time. Don’t want to give any spoilers, but when you’ve finished, you may like to click on the book cover on my sidebar (actually right there now to the left) to read my review. But only after you’ve finished. 😉 I’d love to hear what you think of it.
LikeLike
So many places to visit and limited time…it’s a shame 😦
Loved the photos.
LikeLike
Virtual (previously armchair) touring — that’s how we can all be in Paris this month. 😉
LikeLike
Great photos and a wonderful story! It’s so much fun when we can conenct a place in a book to a place we have been.
LikeLike
Stefanie,
Serendipity plays a large role often. But yes, it’s always gratifying to find connections.
LikeLike
Paris! Oh maybe someday!
LikeLike